Chapter 90

CHAPTER 90

FENCES

90.01   Fence viewers.

90.02   Legal fences; space between ground and bottom.

90.03   Partition fences; when required.

90.035   Public fences.

90.04   Effect of fences on action for trespass by animals.

90.05   How partition made.

90.06   Relocation of fence.

90.07   Division of partition fence.

90.08   Partition of fences in water.

90.09   Partition when land bounded by water.

90.10   Compulsory repair of fence.

90.11   Cost of repairs.

90.12   Apportionment of cost of fence.

90.13   Partition fence on newly enclosed land.

90.14   Fence on town line.

90.15   Fees of viewers; neglect of duty.

90.16   Record of partition.

90.20   Fencing of farm-raised deer that are not white-tailed deer.

90.21   Fencing of farm-raised deer; white-tailed deer.

90.01 90.01 Fence viewers. The supervisors in their respective towns, the alderpersons of cities in their respective aldermanic districts, and the trustees of villages in their respective villages shall be fence viewers.

90.01 History History: 1971 c. 304 s. 29 (1); 1993 a. 184.

90.01 Annotation This chapter’s plain language, when read in light of s. 990.01 (42), unambiguously authorizes a city to administer the enforcement procedures of ss. 90.10 to 90.12. White v. City of Watertown, 2019 WI 9, 385 Wis. 2d 320, 922 N.W.2d 61, 16-2259.

90.01 Annotation Town supervisors are not authorized by this chapter to settle boundary disputes. 70 Atty. Gen. 187.

90.02 90.02 Legal fences; space between ground and bottom.

90.02(1) (1) In this section, “high tensile wire” means wire with a tensile strength of 1,235 to 1,450 mega pascals or 179,000 to 210,000 pounds per square inch.

90.02(1m) (1m) The following and none other are legal and sufficient fences:

90.02(1m)(a) (a) A fence of strong woven wire not less than 26 inches wide with 3 barbed wires or 3 high tensile wires above.

90.02(1m)(b) (b) A fence of strong woven wire not less than 30 inches wide with 2 barbed wires or 2 high tensile wires above.

90.02(1m)(c) (c) A fence of strong woven wire not less than 46 inches wide with one barbed wire or one high tensile wire above.

90.02(1m)(d) (d) A fence of strong woven wire not less than 50 inches wide.

90.02(1m)(e) (e) A fence of boards firmly fastened to posts well set, not more than 8 feet apart, the space between the boards to the height of 30 inches to be not more than 6 inches and at no point to be more than 10 inches.

90.02(1m)(f) (f) A fence of 2 boards with 3 barbed wires or 3 high tensile wires above, firmly fastened to sufficient posts well set not more than 8 feet apart, the space between the boards to be not more than 6 inches.

90.02(1m)(g) (g) A fence of 3 or more wires not less than No. 12, with pickets not less than 4 feet long properly woven in or fastened thereto, and set not more than 6 inches apart.

90.02(1m)(h) (h) All fences consisting of rails, boards, wires or walls, or any combination thereof, and all brooks, rivers, ponds, creeks, ditches, or hedges, which shall, in the judgment of the fence viewers, be equivalent to either of the fences before mentioned.

90.02(1m)(i) (i) The following minimum requirements shall constitute a standard electric fence and shall be a legal fence when agreed to in writing by the adjoining property owners. Such a fence shall consist of 2 strands of strong, tightly stretched wire, charged by a standard approved electric or battery fencer, and the top wire not over 36 inches and not less than 34 inches from the ground, measured at the post, and firmly fastened with insulators to sufficient post, firmly set, and not over 2 rods apart.

90.02(1m)(j) (j) A fence not less than 48 inches high of 4 or more barbed wires or high tensile wires spaced evenly on a steel post of any diameter or on a wood post at least 3 inches in diameter. Existing fences of a lesser standard are legal until they are rebuilt, repaired or replaced.

90.02(2) (2) The strands of woven wire shall not be smaller than No. 12 wire and the cross wires shall not be smaller than No. 16 wire; the strands shall not be more than 8 inches apart, and the cross wires not more than 12 inches apart. All wires must be tightly stretched and securely fastened to sufficient posts firmly set not more than 16 feet apart, except as provided in sub. (1m) (f) or (i) and except that the posts may be set not more than 20 feet apart if the wire is high tensile wire. The space between barbed wires or high tensile wires shall not exceed 8 inches; and the space between the top board or upper edge of woven wire and the bottom barbed wire or high tensile wire shall not exceed 6 inches.

90.02(3) (3) Fences shall not be less than 50 inches high, and the bottom of the fence shall be not more than 4 inches from the ground, measurements to be made at the posts.

90.02 History History: 1995 a. 41, 225, 417.

90.03 90.03 Partition fences; when required. The respective occupants of adjoining lands used and occupied for farming or grazing purposes, and the respective owners of adjoining lands when the lands of one of such owners is used and occupied for farming or grazing purposes, shall keep and maintain partition fences between their own and the adjoining premises in equal shares so long as either party continues to so occupy the lands, except that the occupants of the lands may agree to the use of markers instead of fences, and such fences shall be kept in good repair throughout the year unless the occupants of the lands on both sides otherwise mutually agree.

90.03 History History: 1995 a. 41.

90.035 90.035 Public fences. Where the 2 parties, one of whom is the state or a subdivision thereof, agree that a fence is reasonably necessary, the duty to erect and maintain partition fences shall apply equally to the state, as provided in s. 90.03, and its subdivisions as occupants of lands whenever such lands are bounded by privately owned agricultural or grazing lands.

90.04 90.04 Effect of fences on action for trespass by animals. Owners of lands who do not maintain and keep in repair lawful partition fences may not recover any damages for trespasses by the animals of owners of any adjoining lands with whom partition fences might have been maintained if such lands had been enclosed; but the construction of such a fence does not relieve the owner of swine, horses, sheep or goats from liability for any damage they commit upon the enclosed premises of an adjoining owner.

90.04 History History: 1995 a. 148.

90.05 90.05 How partition made.

90.05(1) (1) 

90.05(1)(a) (a) Every partition of a fence or of the line upon which partition fences are to be built between owners of adjoining lands, after being recorded in the town clerk’s office, obligates the owners, their heirs and assigns to build and maintain the fence in accordance with the partition, if any of the following conditions is met:

90.05(1)(a)1. 1. The partition is made by the owners of the adjoining lands and is in writing, signed and sealed by the owners and witnessed by 2 witnesses.

90.05(1)(a)2. 2. The partition is made by fence viewers in the manner provided under this chapter and is in writing under their hands.

90.05(1)(b) (b) A partition made in accordance with par. (a) shall remain in effect so long as the adjoining land on each side respectively remains in the same ownership, and after a severance of ownership until a new partition of the fence is made.

90.05(1)(c) (c) An owner, or the owner’s heirs or assigns, are not obligated to build or maintain any part of a partition fence during any time when none of the adjoining lands is occupied for farming or grazing.

90.05(2) (2) If a fence is constructed by a subdivider under a town ordinance adopted under s. 60.23 (19) and the land adjoining the subdivision is not subdivided, the partition under sub. (1) shall require that an undivided one-half of the fence be maintained by the owner of the adjoining land not subdivided and one-half of the fence divided into equal shares be maintained by all of the owners of the adjoining subdivided land.

90.05 History History: 1977 c. 229; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253.

90.05 Annotation This chapter’s plain language, when read in light of s. 990.01 (42), unambiguously authorizes a city to administer the enforcement procedures of this chapter. White v. City of Watertown, 2019 WI 9, 385 Wis. 2d 320, 922 N.W.2d 61, 16-2259.

90.06 90.06 Relocation of fence.

90.06(1) (1) When any owner or occupant of land builds a fence before a boundary line has been located between that land and any adjoining land and the location of the boundary line establishes that the fence is located on the adjoining land, the person who built the fence or that person’s grantee, devisee or heirs shall be the owner of the fence. The owner of the fence shall relocate the fence to the boundary line within 30 days after service of written notice of the location of the fence upon the owner of the fence by the owner or occupant of the land upon which the fence is located.

90.06(2) (2) The notice under sub. (1) shall be served personally on the fence owner or by leaving a copy of the notice at the fence owner’s usual place of abode with some member of the fence owner’s family who is of suitable age and discretion. If the notice is left with a family member, the family member shall be informed of the contents of the notice.

90.06(3) (3) If the relocation of the fence is not made within 30 days after service of the notice under sub. (2), the party who served or caused the notice to be served may relocate the fence to the boundary line and recover the expense of doing so from the fence owner. However, no fence that is subject to relocation under this section shall be relocated by the party giving the notice during a time when annual crops will be damaged unless the owners or occupants of the adjoining lands mutually agree.

90.06 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253.

90.07 90.07 Division of partition fence.

90.07(1) (1) A division of a partition fence, or the line upon which a partition fence between adjoining lands shall be built, may be made by fence viewers in the following cases:

90.07(1)(a) (a) When a division of a partition fence, or the line upon which a partition fence between adjoining lands shall be built, shall not have been made in the manner prescribed by s. 90.05, either of the owners of adjoining lands may have the line between that person’s land and the adjoining land of any other person divided, and the portion upon which the respective owners shall erect their share of the partition fence assigned, regardless of whether that person’s land be enclosed or not and regardless of whether such adjoining land be enclosed or not.

90.07(1)(b) (b) When any lands belonging to different persons in severalty shall have been occupied in common or without a partition fence between them and one of the occupants shall be desirous to occupy that occupant’s part in severalty, and the other shall refuse or neglect, on demand, to divide with the desiring occupant the line where the fence ought to be built or to build a sufficient fence on the part of the line belonging to the other occupant, when divided, the occupant desiring it may have the same divided and the share of each assigned.

90.07(1)(c) (c) When any controversy shall arise about the right of the respective occupants in partition fences or their obligation to maintain the same, either party may have the line divided and the share of each assigned.

90.07(2) (2) In either such case application may be made to 2 or more fence viewers of the town where the lands lie or to 2 or more fence viewers of 2 towns, if the lands lie in 2 towns, who, after 8 days’ notice in writing to each party to be served as a summons is in a civil action in a court of record or by registered mail with return receipt requested in the case of a party who does not reside in this state, shall, in writing, divide the partition fence or line and assign to each owner or occupant that party’s share thereof; and in each of said cases they shall also therein direct the time within which each party shall build or repair, as may be proper, that party’s share of the fence, having regard to the season of the year, and shall file such decision in the town clerk’s office, who shall record the same. If either party refuses or neglects to build or repair within the time so assigned that party’s part of the fence the other may, after having completed his or her own part, build or repair such part and recover the expense thereof as provided in s. 90.11.

90.07(3) (3) Whenever practicable, in determining the division of a new line fence, when facing a farm, going around the farm to the right, the first one-half of the line fence belongs to the farm faced.

90.07 History History: 1991 a. 316.

90.07 Annotation This chapter’s plain language, when read in light of s. 990.01 (42), unambiguously authorizes a city to administer the enforcement procedures of this chapter. White v. City of Watertown, 2019 WI 9, 385 Wis. 2d 320, 922 N.W.2d 61, 16-2259.

90.08 90.08 Partition of fences in water. Where a partition fence running into the water is necessary to be made the same shall be done in equal shares unless otherwise agreed by the parties, and in case either party shall refuse or neglect to make or maintain the share belonging to that party similar proceedings shall be had as in case of other fences and with the like effect.

90.08 History History: 1991 a. 316.

90.09 90.09 Partition when land bounded by water.

90.09(1) (1) When the boundary line between enclosed lands owned by different persons is a river, brook, pond or creek, which of itself is not a sufficient fence, and it is impracticable, without unreasonable expense, for a partition fence to be built on the true boundary line, and either owner or occupant refuses to join in making a partition fence on either side of the river, brook, pond or creek, or they disagree respecting making a partition fence, either party may apply to 2 or more fence viewers of the town, who, after giving notice as provided in s. 90.07, shall proceed to view the river, brook, pond or creek.

90.09(2) (2) If the fence viewers determine that the river, brook, pond or creek is not a sufficient fence and that it is impracticable, without unreasonable expense, to build a fence on the true boundary line, the fence viewers shall, in writing under their hands, determine how or on which side of the river, brook, pond or creek the fence shall be built or whether the fence shall be built partly on one side and partly on the other side. The fence viewers shall assign to each owner or occupant that owner’s or occupant’s share of the fence and the time within which the respective parties shall build the fence. The fence viewers shall file their determination in the office of the town clerk, who shall record the determination.

90.09(3) (3) If either party refuses or neglects to build that party’s part of the fence within the time assigned by the fence viewers, the other party may, after having completed his or her own part, build the other party’s part and recover the expense of building the other party’s part of the fence as provided under s. 90.11.

90.09(4) (4) If the fence viewers determine that it is impracticable, either from the formation of the banks of the river, brook, pond or creek or for any other reason, to maintain any fence along or near the boundary line, they shall give written notice to the parties of that determination.

90.09 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253.

90.09 Annotation This chapter’s plain language, when read in light of s. 990.01 (42), unambiguously authorizes a city to administer the enforcement procedures of this chapter. White v. City of Watertown, 2019 WI 9, 385 Wis. 2d 320, 922 N.W.2d 61, 16-2259.

90.10 90.10 Compulsory repair of fence. If any person neglects to repair or rebuild any partition fence that by law that person is required to maintain, the aggrieved party may complain to 2 or more fence viewers of the town, who, after giving notice as provided in s. 90.07, shall examine the fence. If the fence viewers determine that the fence is insufficient, they shall inform the delinquent party of the insufficiency and direct the delinquent party to repair or rebuild the fence within a time that the fence viewers determine is reasonable. If the fence is not repaired or rebuilt within the time fixed by the fence viewers, the complainant may repair or rebuild the fence and recover the expense of repairing or rebuilding the fence as provided under s. 90.11.

90.10 History History: 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 253.

90.10 Annotation This chapter’s plain language, when read in light of s. 990.01 (42), unambiguously authorizes a city to administer the enforcement procedures of ss. 90.10 to 90.12. White v. City of Watertown, 2019 WI 9, 385 Wis. 2d 320, 922 N.W.2d 61, 16-2259.

90.11 90.11 Cost of repairs.

90.11(1) (1) 

90.11(1)(a) (a) Whenever any owner or occupant of land has built, repaired or rebuilt any fence, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, that the adjoining owner or occupant has been lawfully directed by fence viewers to build, repair or rebuild but has failed to do within the time prescribed, the owner or occupant who built, repaired or rebuilt the fence may complain to any 2 or more fence viewers of the town.

90.11(1)(b) (b) The fence viewers complained to under par. (a) shall, after having given notice to the defaulting adjoining owner or occupant as provided in s. 90.07, examine the fence and ascertain the expense of building, repairing or rebuilding the fence. If the fence viewers adjudge the fence sufficient they shall give to the complaining party a certificate under their hands of their decision and of the amount of the expense of building, repairing or rebuilding the fence and of the fees of the fence viewers.

90.11(1)(c) (c) Upon receipt of the fence viewers’ certificate, the complaining party may demand the amount of the expense determined by the fence viewers, together with the fence viewers’ fees, from the defaulting, adjoining owner or occupant. If the adjoining owner or occupant fails to pay the expenses and fees for one month after the complaining party has demanded payment, the amount of expenses and fees together with interest at the rate of 1 percent per month shall constitute a special charge and lien against the adjoining owner’s or occupant’s lands and may be recovered in the manner provided in sub. (2).

90.11(2) (2)